Not only will the Cobb School Board consider extending the superintendent’s contract Thursday night, but it will also decide whether to move forward with nearly $8.5 million in contracts.

Cobb Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s contract with the Cobb County School District expires June 30.

It was approved by the previous board June 5, 2011, and included a base pay of $237,000, though with retirement benefits and moving, car and cell phone allowances, his compensation totals more than $277,000 per year.

The first day of his current, two-year contract was July 1, 2011.

Board Chair Randy Scamihorn, who represents northwest Cobb, said Monday the board will look at extending Hinojosa’s contract, not renewing it. He did not say how long the extension would be.

Board members who were available for comment Tuesday declined to say how they would vote Thursday night. But they did give some feedback on how they thought Hinojosa is doing so far in his job.

Scamihorn said he’s satisfied with the superintendent’s performance, but he and Brad Wheeler, the vice chair, have only served on the board since early January.

“He seems to be doing a good job,” Wheeler said. “I don’t have any conflicts with him, or know if I ever will.”

David Morgan, who represents southwest Cobb, said he, too, feels working with Hinojosa has been good.

Northeast Cobb’s David Banks said his only hesitation with the superintendent is what he called his “lack of activism.”

“I question who’s really running the show,” he said. “I do meet with him regularly to talk about the issues, so there’s some real animosity, but I have an agenda, and it’s not necessarily what his is sometimes.

“A lot of times he does agree with me, but I can talk and he has to put it into action.”

In looking at Thursday’s decision, Banks said he will ask himself two questions before voting.

“Are we better off today from a school system standpoint than we were when he first came on a year and a half ago?” Banks asked. “Also, are we progressing or declining in our academic efforts?”

Board members must vote on the contract in public, but Georgia law allows them to discuss the contract in closed session because it is a personnel matter.

Contracts up for approval

The board will consider approving $8.5 million in contracts for school renovations, services for occupational therapy and at-risk middle and high school students, security, cars and a district-wide grading program.

Eight of the 10 contracts will be funded by SPLOST III, totaling just over $6.3 million.

Three of the SPLOST III projects are over budget by nearly $1.4 million, and one is under budget by $107,335, or about 18 percent.

The overages will be drawn from the SPLOST contingency fund, which sits at a little over $4 million.

The three over-budget projects are renovation contracts at Argyle, Baker and Harmony Leland elementary schools.

The under-budget project is at Nicholson Elementary School in Marietta.

Hinojosa has been awful for the school system. Morale is awful and student scores are stagnant. He will do the same as he did in Dallas - scorch the teachers and staff to meet the budget ends, then walk away with a fat wallet. He has zero connection or responsibility to Cobb County, so he shows little concern for the long term viability of our schools. Don't extend his contract - send him back west.

David Banks said his only hesitation with the superintendent is what he called his “lack of activism. I question who’s really running the show,” he said. “I do meet with him regularly to talk about the issues, so there’s some real animosity, but I have an agenda, and it’s not necessarily what his is sometimes."

Isn't it ironic that because the Super does not agree with Banks,he deems the disagreement as animosity. He also inquires as to who really is running the show. If Banks does not know the answer, he should resign. The SUPER answers to the Board so many times the Super's hands are tied. Give Banks a Job Description!!!

Mr. Banks comments in the MDJ continue to make NO SENSE. I am amazed that the MDJ gives him sooo much lip service. His comment that he is not sure who is really running the show is ironic at best since we know his puppeteer is John Crooks. HAHAHA I predict the extension is just a way to keep Hinojosa in there until they pass SPLOST... don't want anything to derail that now do they? Same reason they didn't follow through and censure Mr. Banks for his ongoing ethics violations. Sure wish people would wake up and see what is going on. Have to say I am impressed with Randy Scamihorn!!!

There are less expensive new vehicles out there--and plenty of "preowned" Ford Escapes available. What a waste of money!

Most projects are seriously over budget and there are still projects being done or being planned that are NOT needed. Simpson did not ask for and does not need any of the projects in the E-SPLOST 4 other than the intercom system. Those fancy new science labs (when in middle school would anyone ever need a quarter of the equipment) are still either unused or underused while children are sitting in severely overcrowded classrooms!

They are going to vote to renew without a report of the survey response? It only came out a couple days ago, do they expect everyone to drop what they are doing and answer immediately? And is it true that his wife still does not live here and he still has Texas plates? If that is the case, he obviously is just using this place as a retirement booster

What we all need to know is this : is the school system in better shape than it was when Mr. Hinajosa took the job? Have SAT scores improved? In other words, just exactly what is going on? And the public does deserve to know.

Banks has already proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he is a grandstanding buffoon with his own agenda, but as long as the voters in his district remain as clueless as they are, he will continue to get re-elected.

ECP

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February 27, 2013

IceDogg, have you ever looked at who David Banks's constituents are? You don't get into the financial positions they are in by being clueless. I'm sorry that you may be unable to make your own decisions, but David Banks stands up for his constituents. Can you say that about your person on the Board?

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